Archiving and preserving society's collective memory is vital to shaping the past and helping to foster and promote a sense of community and identity. Discover why this is so vital during Archives Awareness Week at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre (BCM&CC) April 4 to 9.

Learn more about how archives ensure historically significant records are systematically described and available for a variety of research uses. Discover how archives help people understand their history and the role of particular organizations, individuals and movements in shaping the past.

In a March 22 media release, BCM&CC announced free admission to the Archives & Research Room in recognition of this Archives Awareness Week from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 4 to 9.

The Bruce County Archives holds all Bruce County related public and private records and historical documents, preserves them, and makes them accessible to the public. Museum staff care for these records and assist researchers in their exploration of Bruce County’s stories and past. The BCM&CC is pleased to offer Ancestry.com for searching further afield.

Patrons can then “Celebrate Archives, History and Genealogy” on Sunday, April 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. and learn more about the Bruce County Historical Society’s Bruce County Heritage Documentary Project. This is a three part television series set to air on TVO in 2017, in celebration of Bruce County’s 150th anniversary. An introduction to genealogy will also be given, including details on how to get started by also using Ancestry.com.

There will also be the chance to browse through photo and military collections online and learn about the Archives’ newest venture, “Online Collections”. This online database will allow researchers around the world to search parts of the BCM&CC collection never seen before. The event concludes with a guided tour of the Research Room and a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the Archival storage area.

“It is always so exciting to share the treasures we have in our Archives with visitors,” said Archivist AnnMarie Collins. “We have such an amazing collection of photographs, letters, municipal, organizational and business records, and so many people don’t even know it’s here. Having the opportunity to open the stacks to the public for this tour is really a lot of fun. I hope people will take advantage of the opportunity.”